Driving mechanism



Nov. 3, 1925. 1,559,578

H. F. MORGAN DRIVING MECHANISM Filed March '7, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 abbo/cmu Nov'. 3, 1925.

H. F.' MORGAN DRIVING MECHANISM Filed March' v, lzs

3 Sheets-Sheet B A v anim-anhu H. 7T /azya/n/ H. F. MORGAN DRIVING MIECHANISM Filed March v. 1925 s Sneek-sheet s 7 v 'A fff Patented Nov. 3, 1925.

unirse STATES@ PATENT-r3 HUMPHREY r.l Moneaimzor NEwAnKyLNEWfJERsEYi" Y' DRIVING"M'EGHANISMJ Application.filed'MarehZ 1925. Serial No.13,812.

To all wh-m t may concern.'

Be -it known that I, HMPHREY F. MoR- GAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, inthe county of Essex, State of 5N ew Jersey,'have invented a new and use-Q ful Driving Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and) exactI description oftheiinvention, suchVY as will enable others skilled .1in the/.art to whichvit appei'tains. to make and 'use the same..

254-zontally disposed drive:gearsv withfrolutch mechanisms' whereby upon' theV downward movementv of the spiral shafts the horizon-l tally disposedldrive gears wi117be ,rotated, and upon-the upward ymovement fof the spi? ral shafts -the.horizontallyn disposed gears spiral shafts, thereby al lowi1ig.,easyI return spiral shafts,y and depressible members car-v rie'd thereby toraised-positionforstarting,

another drivingstroke.,l

A further.. object is to.v provide means whereby wheiione.- depressible member is.,

force-d downwardly the other depressible -f member will beforcedfupwardly, andwhich means comprises meshing gears having.l

arms which engage thelunder. sides .of-.the depi'essible members, and Sgearedntogether in relation-to each other, whereby when, one f "*.arm Vism raisedfposition the other arm is in.

-lower position.

A further object is to provide brake lmeans cooperating.v with the central i mainfi drive gear periphery for actingasa.. brake for.I

'fthe mechanism..

A further object is to provide .aftransgear meshing with the main drive gear, and

f ent size carried by the drive wheel.

lVit-hfthe above and other objects-in view v Tliezinvention relates to v. driving ,mechasnisms -particularly adapted for use sin c on.

horizontal with-the minimum amount offriction ofthe which sprockets of different sizes rotatably mount# ed on the transverselyV disposed countershaft for?obtainingdifferent speedsv of rota-- tion of the drivingl vheelj through-:sprocket vchain connections with 'sprockets of dilfer.

double, clutchgniemberis adapted'g-to. i' be shifted transversely into clutchingfenf ,gagenient with clutch rmembers vcarried by the invention resides. in.::the. combination and arrangementof parts as hereinafterset forth, shown iii the. drawingfdescribed andi claimedVit being understoodthat changes in the precise. embodiment ofthe. invention may be made ,within the'scope offwhat .is claimed without departing. from the: spirit v of the invention.

. In the drawing: Y n

Figure l-is a side elevationof thefdi'iving.

bicycle structure. o Y" nig-ure 2 .isaftop mechanism.

Figure 3 is a transversef :sectionalfview through the propelling mechanism taken i on line 3 3 ofA Figure 1..

plan. of 'the propelling `mechanism showingthe same applied 1toa Figure eis atop p lanview ofone of the.l

drive gears -showing Ythe Y clutchl mechanism cooperating lfwiththespiral; shaft.L will loe-out of clutchedengagement withl the Figure'is atop plan .view of the-,other drive gear, showing. the pivoted clutch members 'in position to be, thrown` i -outof'engagement ,with the spiral shaft .upon the.. startingof the. fupward vmovement of the spiral shaft..

Referringto the. drawing, the'numeral 'i designates .spacedf V side bars frame, between therearends of 'which is of a bicycle rotatably mounted .a ground engagingwheel 2.: Secured to the inner sides ofthe bars l are verticallydisposed plates .3, the lower ends of .which terminate in horizontallyfdis posediianges .4,5011 which are mounted jbevelled;V horizontally drive i gears 5, which drive gearsexte'nd through openingsgin the plates 8 adjacent their lower ends,..and Ahave -thei-r adjacent sides meshing withfbevelled gears 7 carried by oppositevsides of the -ina'in drive gear 8, vand which Vdrive gearisinounted on a rotatably .y disposed Y transverselyv disposed shafti`9, the ends of which are rotata l0 of the platesB. `Secured 'toi the outer` ly -mounted in bearings?.

sides of the bars l zare vertically;disposedfl angle bars l1, and which angle bars have their outwardly extending flanges provided with vertically disposed strips 12 behind which the vertically disposed strips carried by the plates 14 are slidably mounted, and which plates 14 are connected together at their upper ends by horizontally disposed tread plates 15, on -which the operator places his feet foroperating the device. It will be noted the tread members and the plates 14 carriedthereby are vertically guidableV movements of the operating shafts 18 slide through the grooves 19 thereof and cause the bevelled drive gears to be rotated out-V wardly away from each other away from the arrows a in Figure 2, therefore it will be seen the main drive gear 8 will be rotated in the kdirection of the arrow Fig- Vby ure 1. When the tread members 15 start on their upward strokes, consequently the drive shafts 18 start upwardly, the pivoted clutch members 21 will be pivotally moved into the portions 22 of the recesses 28 in the gears 5, and will assume positions where their noses 2O will be out of the grooves 19 in the operating shafts, consequently the gear 5, which is not used for driving may rotate freely on the upwardly moving operating. shaft without having driving connection therewith. It will be noted that the clutch operation takes place immediately upon the downward movement of the spiral shafts, and the declutching operation takes place immediately upon the upward movement of the shafts 18. In operation the operator depresses one tread 15 and then the other for imparting intermittent rotation to the gears 5, and through said gears 5 imparting a continuous rotation of the main drive gear 8 in the direction of the arrow b. On the downward movements of the -operating shafts 18, the pivotal movement of the pivoted clutch members 21 in the recesses 23 are limited in one direction means of adjacent walls 24 of the recesses 28, thereby maintaining the noses 2O in the grooves 19 of the`drive shafts 18 during theI downward movements thereof. In operation as the shafts 18 start their upward movement the clutch members 21 are partially rotated lby the shafts and are raised slightly fork facilitating the movethe corners of the operator of a bicycle may be utilized p for operating the device, thereby allowing the maximum amount of power to be obtained with the minimum amount of exertion.

Rotatably mounted in the spaced bars 1 of the frame, forwardly of the main drive gear 8 are transversely disposed parallel shafts 27, which shafts 27 are provided with gears 28, which mesh with each other. Shafts 27 outside of the bars 1 are` provided with rearwardly extending arms 29, which arms extend through vertically elongated recesses 30 in the rear plates 14 and engage` the under sides ofthe tread members 15. Arms 29, when the device is assembied, are positioned in engagement with the under sides of the tread members 15, when said tread members are in depressed and raised positions as clearly shown in Figure 1, therefore it will be seen that when one of the tread members *15 is forced downwardly, the arm 29, which is forced downwardly by said depressed tread member, will rotate the meshing gears 28, in a manner whereby the opposite arm 29 will be forced upwardly in engagement with the under side of the other tread member 15, thereby raising said last named tread member to its raised position. lt is to be noted that at no time dothe operating shafts rotate and that the rotation of the horizontal drive gears .5 is solely through the camming action of the spiral thread when depressed with the pivoted clutch members 21.

Disposed rearwardly of the main drive gear V8 is a countershaft 30, and on which countershaft is rotatably mounted a gear 31 which meshes with the main drive gear 8 and is provided with oppositelyrdisposed clutch members 82, which are adapted to be shifted into cooperative engagement with the clutch members 88 carried by the large sprocket 34 andthe small sprocket 35 for imparting rotation to said sprockets in the direction of the arrow c, Figure 1, according to the speed desired. Extending ovei' the sprockets 34 and 35 are sprocket chains 36 and 37, which sprocket chains extend rearwardly vand over sprockets 38 and 89 of different sizes w .ich lart carried by the wheel 2 of the bicycle, therefore it will be seen by shifting the gear 81 to either side, the drive wheels 2 may be driven through either nspro cket. 34 or i555v i for-i obtaining*differ` country or in ailevelitcountry... Gear 31Lfis shifted throughmeans Lof the A.rotatable shaft 40, thelower end of whichis vprovided withV a bifurcated member 41, the armsoffwhich engager'opposite.` sides-of theigear 31 upon a partial. rotationI of theshaft 40, however anykind of :a .gear-shifting device may be used. Shaft 40 is `rotatably mounted in a sleeve 42 carried by the frameof the bicycle and is provided with a .pin- 43 which cooperates with notches 44 in the" upper end of 'thefsleeve for holdingxthe shaft in any positionl toy which,- it may befrotated7 and with a crossed member 144 :adapted `to be engaged bythe foot. of the operator for manipulating the shaft and clutch.4 The shaft 40 .is normallyrforced Vdownwardly bymeans ofa coiled springy 45 interposed vbetween the any notch to which it may be moved.

lower vendof the sleeve 42 andthe collar. `46 of the. shaft, therefore itA will be-seen that the spring45 will maintain the pin 43Sin ecured to.y the outerperiphery of the main drive gea-r 8, adjacent its opposite sides, and

preferablyby shrinkingthereon, are brake drum rings 47 and with which brake ldrum rings the brake shoe .48 cooperates for acting asa brake foimthedevice.l The brake shoe 48.is carried by thezlower end ofra fbrake lever-49 which-.is pivotally connected at '50v to the frame of the bicycle and is provided at yits upper end with axtransversely disposed. bar v51, adaptedtov beengaged by the foot. ofthe operator .for forcing1 the. brake shoe 40 intofrictional engagement with the band 47. The upper sides of the tread members 15 are preferably provided'fwith transversely disposed bars 52.againstwhich the forward side of thelieel of the operator 1 engages and with .longitudinally disposed.

upwardlyextendingl ribs 513. adapted.y to engage the inner sidesof the soles lof the shoes of the operator,..and prevent/inward movement of the feet oftheoperator, and

the bars 52 prevent forward movement of the feet of the operator, therefore it will .be seen that the operators feet-.will be `main*- tained in a fixed permanent Aposition on the tread members for obtaining themaximum amount of power7 and in a position wherev the feet will not work inwardly, duringitheoperation of the device, to a position where they will interfere with the downward'move= erating mecliansm is provided forwheeled .l

vehicles7 Iparticularly manually ypropelled ones, which mechanism is simple in-construc;

I i tion, positive in-mit'sf operationg;theparts'.rel.,Y ent speeds or gearingfwhich iszof'particularadvantage where the device -is .used inv ahi'lly ducedto ,airminimumi and one whereinrotaff.

.tion is providedftoitheidrivinggears througha the reciprocation ofworm,screws,therebyia Y obtaining `maximumz amount lofpower:.-4 Itr i. will also bef. seen :that several '.speedsfinaya a -be` obtainedl itliroughfsthe shifting.. ofiftlie/il clutch mechanism; j

It willaalso be seen that: .two speedsmay be obtained through the shifting of .they clutch .mechanismfand four or` more setssof. i' the worm shafts can be madewit'lithe fworiiif;y or spiral` at asgieateror less angle whichzz would change the speeds onthe. bicycle lwhena another setiof worm shafts was screwed: into position for operation. The setsinay. be f so that they are1interchangeable;by" changez ing .thel worm shafts `the speeds* wouldibe numerous. i

' The invention'havingbeen setxforthgwhat: is claimed as new and useful is 1. A driving mechanism .comprising7 ver.L tically movable'.- treadf members, .lever wandf gear` vconnections between saidl tread-1 4menn bers, whereby when f one lis forced downward-i ly the other Lwill be forced. upwardly,lver4 ftically 4disposed worm shafts carried )by the which the worm shaft extends,` fclutch'lcon=i 95 'E nections betweenthe drive gears andzworm. shaftsl whereby uponna :downward move-'f mentl of one worin shaftone-vof ftheidrifve' gears willbeidrfiven and-upon awdowiiwardl movement of the other wormshaftit will bei'lm in declutched relation tothefdrifver'gea'iv, .a-` main drive gearibetween ythe tread members, said first mentioned drive gearsfmeshing .withl the main:l drive: gear,` `a driven i f. Ai125 wheel andfdriving connections between-,the main drive gear and theidriven wheel.i

2. The combinationwith'. a `driving mecha-` nismrforlwheeled vehicles and compr:isii'ig-l a main drive gear having dri-'ve connectionsi v with a wheel7 horizontallyl disposed drive=l10 gears meshing with'gears cairiezdffbyoppol` sites sidesof themain drive geait,; of means for rotating the main drivegear,througlifrv the horizontally.disposed drive-gears, ysaid means comprising vvertically disposedt slid- 11") able frames above'theifhorizontalr gears,y tread Imembtrs'carriedby saidnfiam'es'a link: and gear connections -betweenitheiframes" i whereby'when one framefnioves downwards:v

vly the other frame will be forced upwardly; 120 of worm shafts carried by the tread members and extending; through the horizontal gears. and clutch-members carried by the horizontale;

' gears and cooperatingwiththeworm shafts whereby upon ajdownwai'd rmovementY of .125 the worm shafts the horizontal gea-rs -will be rotated and upon upward.movementv of 1 the worin `shafts the horizontal gearswillE rotate freely on the wormfshafts;`

3. The combination-with a'zdevicexof tht-3,1130

character described comprising a main drive gear driven by oppositely disposed horizontally disposed gears meshing with opposite sides of the mainv drive gear, of means for rotating the horizontally disposed gears for driving the main drive gear, said means comprising vertically movable tread inembers, means for forcing one tread member upwardly when the other tread member is forcedV downwardly, vertically .disposed worm shafts carried by the tread members and extending through the horizontally disposed gears and means carried by said horizontally disposed gears and cooperating with the worin shafts, whereby upon a downward movement of the worm shafts the horizontally disposed gears will be rotated and upon an upward movement of the worm shafts the horizontally disposed gears will freely rotate on the worm shafts.

4. The combination with a device of the character described comprising a main drive gear and oppositely disposed horizontally disposed gears meshing with .gears carried byY opposite sides of the main drive gear, tread members vertically movable above the horizontally disposed gears, of axially movable worm gears carried by the tread members and extending through the horizontally disposed gears and clutch members carried by the horizontally disposed gears and cooperating with the worm shafts whereby upon downward movement of the worm shafts the horizontally disposed gears will be rotated and upon upward movement of the shafts the gears will rotate freely on the worm shafts. c

5. The combination with a driving device of the character described and comprising of horizontally disposed drive gears, of means for rotating said drive gears, said means comprising vertically movable tread members, oppositely threaded shafts extending through said gears and carried by the rtread members and clutch means car.- ried by the gears and cooperating with the threaded shafts whereby upon reciprocation of the threaded shafts the gears will be positively rotated by the shafts or allowed to freely rotate on the shafts.

6. The combination with a driving device vof the character described and comprising horizontally disposed drive gears, of means for rotating said drive gears, said means comprising vertically movable tread mem-` bers, oppositely threaded shafts extending through said gears and rigidly carried by the thread members, pivoted members cai'- ried by the gears, one of the ends of said pivoted members being adapted to be received between the thread of the threaded shafts during the downward movement thereof for imparting rotation to the gears, means for limiting the pivotal action of the pivoted members during the driving operation and means whereby upon upward movement of the threaded shafts pivoted members will be allowed to move out of cooperative engagement with the shafts and the gears allowed to freely rotate on the shafts.

7. In a driving device, a supporting frame, a pair of vertically reciprocatory members supported thereon and each being adapted to be actuated by foot power, a driven rotatable member supported on the frame, a driving rotatable member also supported on the frame, means providing a driving connection between the driving rotatable member and the driven member, and means arranged to be actuated by the reciprocatory members to occasion the rotation of the driving member, said last named means comprising a pair of vertical worm shafts respectively carried by said reciprocatory members, each of said worms being mounted in its respective reciprocatory member against rotation, a worm wheel` for each worm, each worm wheel being supported on the frame for rotation and being held against axial movement, and each worin being provided with a bore receiving its respective worm shaft in such a manner as to be in mesh with the worm while permitting axial inovement of the latter relatively thereto, and gears secured to the driv- ,ing member and engaged by the worm wheels.

8. The combination with a bicycle of a driving device comprising a pair of verti` cally reciprocatory foot plates supported at opposite sides of the frame, a driven shaft journalled in the frame, two sprockets of different diameters rotatably mounted on the driven shaft and each having a hub provided with clutch yteeth in the inner end thereof, a gear feathered on the driven shaft and provided with a hub having clutch teeth in opposite ends thereof, means providing independent driving connections between said sprockets and the traction wheel of the bicycle, means for shifting the gear in opposite directions at will to effect the rotation of either sprocket when the driven shaft is rotated, and means arranged to be actuated by the foot plates for rotating the driven shaft.

9. The combination with a bicycle of av driving device comprising a pair of vertically reciprocatory foot plates supported at opposite sides of the frame, a driven shaft journalled in the frame, two sprockets of different diameters rotatably mounted on the driven shaft and each havingy a hub provided with clutch teeth in the inner end thereof, a gear feathered on the driven shaft and provided with a hub having clutch teeth in opposite ends thereof, means providing independent driving connections between said lO y

llO

said sprockets and the traction Wheel of the bicycle, means for shifting the gear in opposite directions at will to effect the rotation yof either sprocket when the driven shaft is rotated, and means arranged to be Vactuated by the foot plates for rotating the driven shaft, said last named means including a vertical worm carried by each foot plate and held against rotation, and means arranged to be actuated by each worm during the downward movement of its supporting foot plate for imparting a torque to the driven shaft.

lO. In a driving device, a supporting on the frame, a wormpwheel 'supported on the frame for rotation and held against axial movement, said worm wheel having a pivoted toothed bore, a worm reciprocatingV in the direction of its length through the bore of the worm wheel and in mesh with the teeth of said bore, said pivoted teeth cooperating with the Worm whereby the worm wheel will be rotated upon a downward movement of the worm vand will freelyrotate on vthe worm upon an upward movement of the worm. u

In testimony whereof I have signed my Vname to this specification. 15 frame, a driven rotatable member supported HUMPHREY F. MORGAN. 

